2 arrested, third sought in logging thefts

ST. JOHN PLANTATION, Maine — Two men have been arrested and a warrant has been issued for a third man in connection with a number of burglaries and thefts in the St. John Valley over the past few months, according to Maine State Police.

State police Sgt. Julie Bergan said in a press release issued late Monday that Ian Bourgoin, 24, of St. Francis and Ken Lebel, 20, of St. Agatha were arrested Jan. 5 and charged with theft by unauthorized taking, burglary of a motor vehicle, aggravated criminal mischief and burglary.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Craig McBreairty, 26, of Fort Kent on similar charges.

Bergan said the charges included an incident in which radios were stolen in October from logging vehicles that had been parked in St. John.

Story continues below advertisement.

During that incident, Bergan said, more than $20,000 damage was caused to a skidder owned by Voisine Bros. logging.

The day after Bourgoin and Lebel were arrested, police executed a search warrant at McBreairty’s residence and seized evidence connecting all three to the crime, according to police.

Troopers Dan Marquis and Corey Hafford made the arrests after receiving a lead from the public.